Best Is Yet To Come by Debbie Macomber - Audio version

 Best Is Yet To Come

by Debbie Macomber

Audio Version

Best is Yet to Come is one of those stories that we all 

can connect to. They say that every person makes their

way into your life for one of two reasons. They either are

here to teach you something or to learn something 

from you. It seemed like this whole story was full of 

situations proving this. 

Hope and Cade each are trying to find a way through

their personal struggles. Then along comes Shadow.

A dog also living with struggles.

It's not just the three of them learning the hardest of

life lessons. But the other people in Oceanside, 

Washington. Everyone is connected. 

If you have ever read Debbie Macomber, you know how 

much heart and love and life you will find in her stories.

If you choose the audio version of Best is Yet to Come,

you will get to hear Therese Plummer. One of the best

narrators ever. So you really do not want to miss the

chance to get in on this story. 

I bought my copy from Audible.com.

Review by Lisa Hutson 

Sweet Madness by Heather Snow - Audio Version

Sweet Madness

by Heather Snow

 ★★★★★

I have read this one several times. This is 

my first time listening to it. Kate Marcin is

the narrator. She did a fine job. Her accent

is not over the top. She is understandable. 

I believe she is also the voice of the other

three stories from the Veiled Seduction 

series by Heather Snow. So I will be 

looking into them.

 As for the story. I love it! It is a story 

starring a strong, intelligent, kind, 

determined woman. She has devoted 

her time to helping men who struggle

with PTSD. It is my favorite thing with a

Heather Snow book.

Penelope is not just a feminine, lovely 

woman. She adds to society. To others. 

She is advancing science and medicine.

At the same time, 

helping someone very dear to her. 

It is not often I find historical romance

reading women in the science and 

medicine fields. I love reading this story. 

I can highly recommend it. 

Review by Lisa Hutson

Sweet Rogue of Mine by Shana Galen

 Sweet Rogue of Mine

by Shana Galen

Sweet Rogue of Mine is Book 9 of the

Survivors Series. It's easily my favorite 

Shana Galen series. Scheduled for 

February 9, 2021. 

Prudence Howard is humble and honest. 

She is kind to those around her. Pru will help 

anyone that needs it. And for some reason,

trouble seems to follow her around. Just waiting

for a chance to strike. 

Then there is Nash Pope. He has survived war, losing

his sight and bullets. He has survived his own best 

efforts to do himself in. Nash finds himself wandering

his property only to wind up stuck in the mud. 

Then he hears a woman singing. His life is forever changed. 

The next day, Prudence discovers his blindness. She tells

him that had she known, she would not have helped him

the day before. He is shocked that she would not have

helped him if she had known he was blind. As she explains 

to him, "Those who are blind or deaf or crippled want to be 

treated with the same dignity as everyone else."

"You offered assistance because you thought I had perfect vision."

"Exactly. I thought you were just being a typical man and

refusing help out of stupidity."

Nash all but choked at that statement. 

"But if turns out you were just being determined. I have been 

scolded by enough one-legged beggars to know that they 

would rather do it on their own. It's a point of pride. 

To offer assistance would be to imply I thought you were not

competent. I did not mean to make you feel so. 

"That is certainly an .....interesting way of thinking

about the world."

This gives you all you need to know about Pru. 

Nash and Pru have so many things against them. The world

does not generally look kindly at those with mental health 

issues or a wide open way of looking at life. Can the two 

of them come to terms? With each other? With those 

around them? Those that have left them? Those that have

been there thru the worst with them? 

Shana Galen has added a wonderful chapter to this series. 

 The Survivors continue on. Living and loving and enjoying life. 

Review by Lisa Hutson

A Lowcountry Christmas by Mary Alice Monroe - Audio Version

A Lowcountry Christmas

by Mary Alice Monroe

Audio Version

 ☆☆☆☆☆

I enjoy reading holiday stories. But especially during

the holidays. I cant get enough of them. This year, I have

found I am getting the most from audio stories. I have one

or two kindle books I want to get to. But mostly, 

I like being read to! 

This was my first Mary Alice Monroe story. The cover was so 

calming and pretty. As it turned out, A Lowcountry Christmas

was a calm and pretty story. A family with struggles and love.

Happiness and memories. Respect and patience.

 The McClellan family find themselves as many of us do at

one time or another. The budget is low and Christmas is 

around the corner. They also are reminded that they live in

a community. A helpful and caring community.

 When an emergency comes up, everyone is reminded what

is important. What matters and what doesn't. 

It's a wonderful story to listen to. Mary Alice Monroe does 

the narration for her own book. I love it when

writers do that! She makes it sound just like she heard 

it in her head while writing it. 

I hope you're having a wonderful holiday. 

With lots of book time. 

Whether listening or reading. 

Review by Lisa Hutson

The Highlanders Excellent Adventure by Shana Galen

The Highlanders Excellent Adventure

by Shana Galen

★★★★★

It's another racing romance from the wonderful

Survivors Series. In this story, #8 of the series,

you get a rocking adventure with two couples! 

The Highlanders Excellent Adventure is filled with

 just that, adventure!  When your life isn't going as

you wish, sometimes you have limited ways to do 

something about it.  But if you're a smart, bold 

woman, you can take matters into your own hands. 

Ines and Emmeline do just that. They are each 

struggling to get their lives moving in the direction

they want. Separately, they take action. In the

process, they find themselves on an exciting trip

into Scotland. 

There is a lot of story in this book. I am a slow reader.

But I kept finding I had to read faster and faster to 

keep up with all the action. The bold women. The

crazy, brave men. A surprise dog. A friendly gunshot. 

A runaway carriage. The story is proof that love 

simply cannot be halted. 

Review by Lisa Hutson

Wind Chime Summer by Sophie Moss

Wind Chime Summer

by Sophie Moss

☆☆☆☆☆

Wind Chime Summer is

Book Three of

The Wind Chimes Novels

 

I spent a few years volunteering at my local USO.

It was an amazing time. I felt like I was making a

true contribution to the great men, women and

the families of those that protect this country. I also

had the opportunity to talk to many service members,

veterans and their families. I learned a lot. There was

one subject that came up so much. PTSD.

We all know that it isn't an issue exclusive to service

members. But that is what this story is centered on.
Without question, Sophie Moss wrote a wonderful

love story including a group of characters that

are very brave, strong men and women.

Wind Chime Summer is a romantic story. But it isn't

a romance that comes easily. Both Ryan and Izzy have

to fight hard to get to the place where they can have a

true relationship with romance. Ryan is coming to terms

with his own issues. Family history mostly.

 

Then its Izzy Rivera. She has been falling deeper and

deeper into the haze, terror and anger of PTSD.
Stemming from her service time in the Army.
As with most people, she thinks she can handle it.

If she can only find a way to deal a particular person.

Of course, there is so much more to it than this one guy

or one incident. In the end, Izzy does get the help she

needed. On many fronts. And from many people.

 

Ryan and Izzy are perfect for each other, of course.

Ryan is infinitely patient. Izzy is determined.

They find their way to each other. Ryan also finds a

way to connect with his father.

And Izzy finds her way back to the kitchen.

 

Ahh, the love. The wonderful deep emotion that is

the biggest part of this wind chime summer.

The soft sounds and beauty of the wind chimes

is romantic and magical. Its proven in every story.

 

 

I want to add something. Here is a link.

If you or someone you know needs help.

I hope this will lead you to the people

you need. Maybe its just a starting point.

But I truly hope you will find the help

from somewhere.

https://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/where-to-get-help.asp

 

I have enjoyed every book in this series.

I bought the first book. The second two were

arcs given to me in exchange for an

honest review.

This review by Lisa Hutson

 



The Lucky One - Movie review

The Lucky One

A Movie Review

Released in 2012

Starring Zac Efron &

Taylor Schilling

I read this story before going to see the movie.
It was my first and only Nicholas Sparks books.
I was not warned ahead of time that his stories are notorious
for their sad endings. Thankfully, the movie was not.
It was close to the book. But I preferred the movie.
Kind of a strange ending but happy.



I have never been a fan of Zac Efron, he is so pretty.

Its really hard to watch him. But he really did a fabulous

job on this one. A brooding, struggling Marine suffering

with ptsd. He is trying to find an angel he thinks saved

his life more than once on the battle field.

I have never seen Taylor Schilling in anything else.

She was perfect for this part. Her grandma is played by

Blythe Danner. Never much cared for her movies in

the past but she was perfect for this role and did a

great job.

Its a romantic movie with real actual hard, destructive,

scary, sad, emotional life. Because it winds up the

best possible way, you can only sigh.

Review by Lisa Hutson 



Wind Chime Cafe by Sophie Moss

Wind Chime Café

by Sophie Moss

I came across this story on my kindle. Do you ever

do that? Just see a story somewhere and feel drawn to

read it? Even if you don't know the author? Or have any

connection to it?
That's how this was. I have never read Sophie Moss.
But I felt like I just had to read it.
Thank goodness!
It has been a wonderful, heart touching, demanding,

real life, emotional story. The characters were

wildly diverse. And still, came together beautifully.

I could not wait from moment to moment to find

out what was going to happen.

Annie Malone is a single mom. She is not always

lovable. She has a lovely eight year old daughter,

Taylor. Taylor is in an emotionally fragile place.

Sometimes, Annie puts people off in the process of

protecting Taylor. But she is putting everything on the

line on Heron Island to make a new, safe,
comfortable life for the two of them.

Will Dozier is a Navy Seal trying to get

a hold of his own life. He grew up here on

Heron Island. But he has not been home for

10 years. He is being forced to be here to take

care of his grandparents homestead. And do it

in such a way that it stays true to their memory.

Taylor and Will have everything in common.

Even though she is an 8 year old girl and he is

a grown man and Navy Seal. The emotions everyone

in this story goes through are written so well. They will

all settle deep in your heart. You will picture

the diner and the beach. You will hear the wind

chimes. You will feel the children in their pure

happiness and then in desperate fear.

Its been some time since I read a story that has

touched me so much. There are no slow times. Its

not all hard. But it flows and moves along steady.

I really loved this story.

Review by Lisa Hutson